DEVELOPING BACKBONE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS Mark D. J. DeliveredWilliams by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank DEVELOPING BACKBONE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS Mark D. J. Williams Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank © 2010 Th e International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / Th e World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org E-mail: [email protected] All rights reserved 1 2 3 4 13 12 11 10 Th is volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / Th e World Bank. Th e fi ndings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Executive Directors of Th e World Bank or the governments they represent. Th e World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. 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All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Offi ce of the Publisher, Th e World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2422; e-mail: [email protected]. ISBN: 978-0-8213-8172-4 eISBN: 978-0-8213-8173-1 DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-8172-4 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Broadband for Africa: developing backbone communications networks / Mark D. J. Williams. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8213-8172-4 — ISBN 978-0-8213-8173-1 (electronic) 1. Telecommunication—Africa. 2. Broadband communication systems—Africa. 3. Information technology—Economic aspects—Africa. I. Williams, Mark D. J., 1972- HE8464.B76 2009 384'.3'3—dc22 2009041805 Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Contents Foreword vii Acknowledgments ix About the Author xi Abbreviations xiii Executive Summary xv 1 Introduction 1 2 Backbone Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa 3 The Role of Backbone Networks 3 Backbone Network Coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa 9 Understanding the Dynamics of Backbone Networks 16 Notes 29 3 Backbone Policies for Sub-Saharan Africa 31 Create an Enabling Environment for Infrastructure Competition 33 Stimulate Rollout in Underserved Areas 46 Implement Backbone Policy 58 Assess the Costs and Benefits of Support to the Development of Backbone Networks 58 Determine the Institutional Implications of Backbone Network Policy Recommendations 60 Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: 4 Conclusion: Beyond theThe Backbone World Bank 67 IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 References and Other Resources 71 Index 75 v (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank CONTENTS Boxes 2.1 Economic Impact of Backbone Networks 7 2.2 Backbone Network in Burkina Faso 21 3.1 Backbone Network Development in the United States 37 3.2 Provision of Passive Infrastructure for Fiber Networks in Spain 39 3.3 Network Sharing in Bahrain 41 3.4 Examples of Infrastructure Development through Demand Aggregation 43 3.5 Financial Analysis of a Fiber-Optic Backbone Network in Uganda 47 3.6 Competitive Subsidy Models in France and Singapore 51 3.7 EASSy as a Shared Infrastructure/Consortium Model 55 3.8 Incentive-Based Private Sector Models in Sweden and Brazil 57 Figures 2.1 Broadband Communications Supply Chain 4 2.2 Population Coverage of Incumbent and Competing Networks 14 2.3 Backbone Network Development in Sub-Saharan Africa 17 2.4 Backbone Bandwidth Requirements 18 2.5 Optimum Backbone Technology Choice 18 2.6 Fiber-Optic Cable Network Cost Structure 19 2.7 Fiber-Optic Backbone Network Length in India 24 3.1 Road Map for Backbone Network Policy 59 Maps 2.1 Backbone Networks in Botswana 12 2.2 Competitive Backbone Network Development in Nigeria 13 Tables 3.1 Summary of Policy Options 32 3.2 Principles for Estimating the Cost of Backbone Policy Options 61 Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: 3.3 Institutional and TechnicalThe World Implications Bank of Policy Options IP : 192.86.100.29 64 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 vi (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Foreword Over the past decade, a large amount of private investment, driven by sector liberalization and competition and major advances in cel- lular technology, has brought telecommunications services within the reach of the majority of Africa’s population. Increasing competition is making services more affordable and putting pressure on operat- ing margins. Operators are responding by expanding their networks beyond towns and cities into rural areas, and tailoring services to the needs of the lower-income tiers of the population. This rapid spread of access to information and communications services is changing the way society and business work in Africa, allowing families to stay in touch with each other, governments to deliver services more effectively, and businesses to operate more efficiently. Africa’s rapid adoption of the mobile phone is quickly closing the dig- ital divide in voice services. But, just as one divide is closing, another one is opening wider. Consumers almost everywhere are demanding more services and larger bandwidth. People everywhere are coming to realize the benefits of having broadband Internet service, which per- mits instant access to nearly unlimited sources of information glob- ally. The knowledge provided through such easy access to information is creating unprecedented opportunities and having a dramatic impact on the way peopleDelivered live and by Thework. World Africa, Bank e-libraryhowever, to: has been largely The World Bank left behind in the shift to broadband.IP : 192.86.100.29 Increasing the availability and affordability of broadbandMon, 03services May 2010 is thus14:41:29 high on the agenda for policy makers in Africa, though it will require major efforts from both government and the private sector. Conducive policy environments, vii (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank FOREWORD investment in network infrastructure, access to radio spectrum, and availability of affordable international bandwidth will all play key roles in the delivery of low-cost broadband to Africa. This book looks at one critical element of the broadband network infrastructure: domestic backbones. Backbone networks are the high- capacity, fiber-optic networks that link disparate geographic areas and transport the high volumes of communications traffic associated with broadband services to customers. Africa’s focus, thus far, on mobile networks to address an immediate service need has left back- bone networks underdeveloped. This has created a major bottleneck in the rollout of high-bandwidth services and in the upgrading of cellular networks to provide value-added services. Overcoming this infrastructure hurdle is an important element in shaping the structure and policy framework of the telecommunications services sector. Without it, broadband will remain expensive and limited to businesses and high-income customers. This volume takes a comprehensive, analytical view of the policy challenge of backbone networks, starting with the economics and the technology. It develops a set of policy recommendations for govern- ments aiming to raise investment in and access to backbone networks, and lays the foundation for the World Bank’s strategy toward back- bone communications infrastructure in Africa. Mohsen A. Khalil Director, Global Information and Communication Technologies The World Bank Group Delivered by The World Bank e-library to: The World Bank IP : 192.86.100.29 Mon, 03 May 2010 14:41:29 viii (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank Acknowledgments This book was made possible thanks to funding by the Information for Development Program (infoDev), which is a multidonor grant facility housed at the Global Information and Communication Tech- nologies (GICT) Department of the World Bank Group. The book has benefited from extensive input and comments from people within and outside the World Bank Group.